Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-13

''COC0a on. llGt ~ A45ASf
elder Of the two hunters, ana they dar1eo
away, with Tatters far in the rear. =,
They rode hard and and hot for full
bour. eetting more frightened and going
faster at every jump. Inc sun was nisn
in the heavens. Their horses were all in
q foam.
II see something at last" said one as
he stood I'D in his stirrups, and then set
ting hack in his seat he laid on whip and
sn11r and rode fast and furious straight
for dark object that lay there ID the
long brown grasses ofthe broad, unbroken
plain.
Soon they came to it. 1t was a dead
buffalo They knew now that they had
been riding in the fatal circle that means
death if you do not break it and escape.
Very meek and very penitent felt the
boys as Tatters came riding up slowly
after them. They were very tired and
thirsty They seemed to themselves to
have shrunken MP to about half their
usual size Meekly they lifted their eyes
Ia the despised boy and pleaded silently
and pitifully for help. Tears were III their
eyes, their lips quivered, but they could
not say word.
eve must ride with the sun On our left
shoulder. as / said, and with our faces all
the time to the west. If we do not do
that we shall die. Now come with me,
said Tatters, firmly.
He turned his horse and took the lead.
And now meekly and patiently the others
followed.
But the horses were broken in strength
and spirit. The sun in mid-heaven poured
its full force of heat upon the heads OF the
thirsty hunters, and they could hardly
keep their seats in the hot saddles. The
horses began to stumble and stagger as
they walked And yet there was no sight
or sound of anything at all-behind, be-
fore. on the right or on the left. Nothing
but the weary, dreary, eternal and I'M
broken sea of brown.
Away to the west the bright, blue SKY
shut down sharp and tight upon the
brown and blazing plain. The tops OF
the long, untrodden grass cleaned and
shirnmered i'll the heat. Yet not sign
of water could anywhere be discovered.
Silence, yastness, vOicelesS as when the
world came newly from the hand Of God.
No one spoke. Steadily and quietly the
leader of the party rode on. Now and
then lie would lift mis- eyes under his hat
TO the blazing sun over his left shoulder
and that was all.
There comes a time to us all, ] believe,
sooner or later, on the plains, in the val
lev or on the mountain, in the palace or
cottage, when we, too, can only lift our
eyes. silent and helpless, to something
shining in heaven.
At last the silent little party heard a
faint sound beyond them, feeble,
screeching cry that came out from the
brown grass beneath them as they
struggled on. Then suddenly they came
out of the tail, brown grass into the open
plain that looked like a plowed field, only
all about the outer edge OF the field were
little hills or forts about as high as a
mans knee. On every one Of these little
forts stood soldier sentinel high on his
hind legs and barking with all his might.
The lost hunters had found dogtown, the
first they had ever seen.
The party rode through the town and
looked beyond. NOthingl Behind, moth
ing! To the right, nothing! To the left,
nothing; nothing but the great, blue sky
shut down tight against the boundless sea
of grass.
"Water! am dying for water" gasped
one of the boys.
Tatters looked him in the face and saw
that what he said was true. He reflected
q moment and then said.
.'Wait here for me-"
Then leaving the others he rode slowly
round the dog town closely scanning the
ground AS he again neared the boys he
uttered cry Of delight and beckoned them
to come.
'Look there, do you see that little road
winding along through the grass? That
means everything to u.s.
"Oh, what does it mean? I'm dying OF
thirstr cried one Of the brothers.
sit means water! Do you think a great
city like that can get on without water.
Come, let us follow their trail till we find
it,
So saving TatterS led off at a lively pace,
for the horses were somewhat rested, and
it is safe to say that that they understood
the meaning Of the little road under theiI
feet.
''Hurrah Hurrahl HurrahH'
Tatters turned In his saddle and shoob
his cap to cheer the boys behind, as be
saw long line of fresh green willows
starting up out of the grass before him.
And didn't the horses dip their noses il
the water And didn't the boys slide
down from their saddles and throw them
selves beside it, They all bathed theil
faces and their horses nibbled the grass as
the riders sat on the bank and looked anx
ioasly at the setting sun.
Stop here and hold the horses till
come back" said Tatters.
He went down to the edge of the water
and looked long and anXiously at the swift
little stream. At last he sprang up, ROLLED
his ragged pants above his knees anf
dashed into the water, clutched a little
white object and hurried back to the boys
See that! A chip! They are encampet
on this stream somewhere, and they CAM
be very far away from here"
Eagerly the boys mounted their horse,
| and rode close after Tatters
"And how do you know that they ar,
close by?" queried one.
1.-THE chip was wet only ON one side. L
had not been ten minutes in the water.
AS Tatters said this the boys exchanged
| glances. They were so glad to be nearing
| their father Cnce more. But it somehow
began TO dawn upon them very clearly
that they did not know everything, ever
il their father was rich.
! Soon guns were heard firing for the los
| party. Turning a corner in the willow,
little river, they saw the tents. the wagons
in corral, and the oxen feeding peace
| fully beyond -San Francisco Call.
Slaughter of HOLSTERS.